4 Most Anticipated Sequels and Expansions to be Released in Q3 2017 and Beyond

There are so many video game sequels and expansions that was released in the previous 2 quarters of 2017. Tekken 7, Injustice 2, Tom Clancy Ghost Recon: Wildlands, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard; the list goes on. But you should still anticipate the release of more sequels and expansions in the upcoming third quarter of the year. These installments will feature new gameplay, plotline, and maybe tie up loose ends that its predecessors left hanging.

Splatoon 2

Release Date: July 21

Nintendo Switch users will get some love later this month with the release of this third-person shooter game. As a sequel to the first Splatoon game for Wii U, the story will continue nine months after the last Splatfest event. The gameplay is still pretty much the same; playable characters known as Inklings can use colored ink to attack opponents and achieve their goals.

This sequel, however, adds new weapons and applies that would allow the characters to perform special moves and unlocks new items. It also has a new play modes like the Salmon Run and Hero Mode, a co-operative mode and a single-player campaign respectively.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Release Date: August 23

Hadn’t had enough of Nathan Drake and the gang? Specifically, Chloe Frazer from Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Nadine Ross from Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End? It turns out that although the Uncharted universe seems big, the world is still small after all. Ross and Frazer unite six months after the events of Uncharted 4 to search for the Tusk of Ganesh in India.

Even if Nathan Drake will not make an appearance in this DLC, you should consider checking out this standalone expansion if you want closure after playing Uncharted 4 (that is until Sony and Naughty Dogs develop more games in the future). Better yet, this game will give you access to the multiplayer version of Uncharted 4.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm

Release Date: August 31

Whether you made Max save Chloe or the town or Arcadia, the former will make a comeback in this prequel. Set prior to the events of the first game, players will assume control of Max’s rebellious friend. The gameplay is quite similar to the first game, sans the time travelling aspect. Instead, there will be a “Backtalk” feature where it can be used to get Chloe out of an undesired situation.

This prequel will possibly explore the everyday life of Chloe Price and shows the events leading up to the disappearance of her friend, Rachel Amber. It will probably leave you with overwhelming regret and sadness, too, if you chose to sacrifice Chloe in the first game. Nevertheless, Before the Storm will be a nice addition to the Life is Strange saga.

Destiny 2

Release Date: September 6

This upcoming online-only multiplayer first-person shooter game will have several beta releases earlier in the quarter but the final version of the game won’t be released until September. It has similar gameplay as the first Destiny game and other expansions with an improvement on the player matchmaking system called “Guided Games” where players can search for clans to complete strikes or raids. The plot will center around how the antagonist Emperor Ghaul successfully stripped the powers off the Guardians, forcing them to venture into new worlds.

A sequel for Destiny was first mentioned all the way back in 2014 but the official release will take a while because the developers, Bungie, needed to start creating from scratch. While Destiny 2 will have the same character personalization traits like class race, and physical appearance, players can expect new worlds, stories, and powers.

Games I Wish Would Come Out in Q3

The Last of Us 2

Release Date: TBA

It’s safe to say that the ending of the first The Last of Us left every single one of us begging for more. When Joel decided that Ellie was too precious to just be handed over and be experimented with, we’re sure that there will be a continuation to their bittersweet adventure somewhere in the future. Gladly, the first trailer came out in 2016 to give us a brief insight on how the plot line will be like.

The game will take place five years after the events of the first game and story writer Neil Druckman states that while the first game centered around love between the characters, the second game is the opposite of that and will center around hate. It’s hard to imagine how these two characters can hate each other, but given the circumstance and the character developments, this will be an interesting plot to explore.

Death Stranding

Release Date: TBA

This game is not necessarily a sequel nor an expansion to any game, but it does feature the collaboration between Hideo Kojima, Norman Reedus, and Guillermo del Toro. Perhaps, you can think of it as an unofficial tie-in to the Silent Hills. The plot of the game explores the connection between life and death and the title refers to the cetacean stranding phenomenon where whales and dolphins strand themselves on land to die. It might also feature aspects relating to theory of relativity and quantum field theory.

Death Stranding is set in an open world environment and has a multiplayer feature akin to the Grand Theft Auto games and Fallout games. The game will have new elements which Kojima have compared it to his own game, Metal Gear, considered to be the first stealth video game. There is no confirmation on the exact release date so far but it will most probably be before 2019. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that they won’t cancel it again this time.

The games listed above are just a few of the abundance of sequels and expansions that will come out in Q3 and the rest of the year. Many of them include new elements and innovative video game technology that all game developers should study to stay relevant and create the hype and anticipation they need for their upcoming games.

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This post was written by Febriani Ramadhanya from iPrice group.